HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN
TELEPHONE ADVICE?
Some
problems can be dealt with over the phone. The doctors are generally available
to give telephone advice between 11.30am to 12 noon each weekday. If not,
the receptionist will suggest an alternative time or arrange for the doctor
to call you back.
You may also speak to the practice nurses for
advice; the receptionist will take your details and the nurse will return
your telephone call when she is available.
HOW
DO I...
MAKE
AN APPOINTMENT?
Routine Appointments
The majority of our appointments can be booked in advance by contacting the surgery at any time during the week. Although we do offer a combination of advanced booked and urgent (on the day) appointments, we only have a limited number of urgent appointments available each day, so we try to encourage patients to arrange their appointment in advance whenever possible.
Urgent
Appointments
A limited number of urgent (on the day) appointments are available each day. In periods of high demand the receptionist may ask you if you if it is something that could be dealt with over the phone and offer a telephone consultation. If the GP feels they need to see you they will ask you to come to the surgery at an allotted time. This decision lies with the GP, not the reception staff.
Whilst the phone lines are switched over at 8.00am every weekday, we would ask you to avoid calling us between then and 9.00am unless your need is urgent. This applies particularly to Monday mornings (our busiest time of the week).
Text Reminder Service
We operate an automated text reminder service direct to mobile phones detailing the date and time of the patient's next appointment at the surgery.
This text is sent a day or so before the appointment. To receive text reminders simply provide us with your mobile phone number. Any patient who no longer wishes to recieve text messages can opt out of this service by informing reception.
HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN
A HOME VISIT?
Our doctors typically see four patients in the practice in the time
it takes to do a single home visit. For this reason, we ask our patients
to come to the practice if at all possible.
Please consider carefully
whether a request for a visit is necessary. Urgent cases can always be
fitted in during surgeries and even children, who can be wrapped in a
blanket if needed, can often be seen more quickly at surgery than visited
at home.
We would like to emphasise that we only offer home visits
to those who genuinely cannot get to the surgery through ill health. Transport
difficulties are not a reason for a home visit. However,
patients who are too ill or physically incapable of travelling to the
surgery may request one.
Please ring before 10.00am to arrange
a visit and let us know if your condition is urgent. A contact telephone
number is essential as the doctor may need to contact you to assess your
condition before visiting.
HOW
DO I...
OBTAIN
TEST RESULTS?
Results of tests ordered by the doctor can be obtained by ringing
the surgery between 2.00 and 3.00pm each weekday. Results will only be given out to the patient concerned and
for this reason the reception staff will ask a few details to ensure patient
confidentiality is maintained.
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